Flipper Uno Los Gigantes: 2-Hour Dolphin and Whale Cruise With Swim Stop

Flipper Uno

Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop

★ 4.7 (5,884) · from $31

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Prices and timetables checked 17 October 2026. This page contains affiliate links: I earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.

The Flipper Uno Los Gigantes cruise is a 2-hour dolphin and whale watching trip from the harbour at the foot of the Los Gigantes cliffs on Tenerife's west coast, sold on GetYourGuide from $31 per person. It is the only boat of the four in my Tenerife whale watching comparison that leaves from the west, not the south.

The detail that most changes the decision is parking and arrival. Reviewers and the listing warn that the port gets congested; arrive an hour early if you drive. Also check the language: the listing names Spanish only, although a reviewer says the guides explained in several languages. Alternatives from other ports sit on the Tenerife boat tours hub; the harbouradvisor.com home page covers other cities.

What is the Flipper Uno Los Gigantes cruise and what do you see?

The Flipper Uno Los Gigantes cruise is a 2-hour boat trip that combines a search for pilot whales and dolphins with a close pass under the Los Gigantes cliffs and a swim in a bay.

The wildlife part sits in the Teno-Rasca marine strip, which Spain's environment ministry describes as 69,489.68 hectares with up to 22 cetacean species and resident bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales (MITECO site panel). A reviewer in the sample reports two dolphin species; another says they saw many humpback whales, which the listing does not promise.

• Dolphins and pilot whales: reported in most reviews that mention wildlife.
• Cliffs: the Acantilados de Los Gigantes on Google Maps rise straight out of the sea next to the port.
• Swim stop: one of three bays, chosen on the day.
• Cold drink: one per person, included.

Several departures a day, all year, from the Los Gigantes pier, is how Turismo de Tenerife describes the operator's schedule.

Where does the Flipper Uno cruise leave from?

It leaves from the Port of Los Gigantes: the Flipper Uno office stands just inside the harbour entrance, to your right, and staff wear yellow T-shirts. Port of Los Gigantes on Google Maps

1. Drive or walk to the harbour entrance; arrive at least 30 minutes before sailing.
2. If you drive, allow an hour: the listing warns of heavy traffic and scarce parking inside and outside the port.
3. Find the office on the right and look for the yellow T-shirts.
4. Board with the group. Late arrivals get no refund or new date.

The itinerary labels the start "Masca Express", which looks like a boat or product name, so follow the meeting-point text instead. A reviewer confirms the parking struggle. From the neighbouring beach you can check this walking route from Playa de la Arena to the port; I found no verified bus timetable, so I give no minutes.

What is the route, stop by stop?

The route runs from the harbour to the wildlife area, then along the Los Gigantes and Masca cliffs, and ends at an anchored swim stop in Masca, Barranco Seco or Juan López bay.

Reviewers say the swim stop feels short and ask for more water time, so I'd plan on a quick swim rather than a long snorkel. The listing does not say whether snorkel gear is supplied.

How long is it and when does it sail?

The cruise takes 2 hours, and the operator runs several departures a day all year according to Turismo de Tenerife, although this listing publishes no fixed times.

Sunset on 15 October 2026 is at 19:39 local time, so afternoon trips finish in daylight. The API table below shows how it shifts through the year.

Ask the operator which slot it recommends on your date; the listing does not say.

What is on board and what is included?

The $31 ticket covers the cruise, the wildlife search, the cliff stop, swimming and one cold drink; food, other drinks and tips are extra.

Not allowed: smoking, vaping, alcohol and drugs, glass objects, speakers and touching animals. Where the pickup line clashes with the meeting point, I trust the meeting point.

How does it compare with the other Tenerife whale boats?

At about $15.5 per hour, the Flipper Uno cruise is level with Eden Catamaran as the cheapest whale boat per hour in my Tenerife set, and the only one launching from the west coast.

The direct rival is the Eden Catamaran: $8 more, a free-drinks format and an optional 3-hour version with snorkelling, from Puerto Colón. If you are staying in Costa Adeje or Playa de las Américas, that boat is closer; Flipper Uno suits you if you are based around Los Gigantes.

Is the Flipper Uno Los Gigantes cruise worth it vs the other boats?

For a west-coast base, I'd book the Flipper Uno Los Gigantes cruise: it is among the cheapest per hour, includes a drink and a swim, and adds the cliffs that the south-coast boats do not visit.

• Pick it if you are staying near Los Gigantes and want cliffs, a swim and a drink.
• Pick the Travelin Lady if you start from Los Cristianos and want a shorter 1.5-hour trip.
• Pick the Vision catamaran if you want the underwater viewing area and no swimming.
• Pick Eden Catamaran if you want drinks included and the option of 3 hours.

Whichever you choose, Real Decreto 1727/2007 sets a legal exclusion zone of at least 60 metres around cetaceans, so boat operators should keep that distance regardless of marketing language.

When is the best time to go?

Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins stay in the area all year, so the best time depends mostly on sea state and swim comfort.

Open-Meteo's 2025 data near Los Cristianos gives average maximum waves of 1.05 m in October and 1.79 m in March, and sea temperatures from 20.2 °C in February to 24.2 °C in September. The point is on the south coast, not at Los Gigantes, so treat it as a regional guide only.

No UV figure was available for this location. The listing tells you that sightings depend on sea conditions, and the next public holiday is 1 November 2026, which can mean fuller harbours.

What do passengers say?

All 10 reviews in the sample are five-star, so it is positive-only; the platform summary gives the main complaint.

• Crew: friendly and informative guides appear in most reviews.
• Wildlife: dolphins in several, two species in one, humpbacks in another.
• Cliffs and swim: Los Gigantes and Masca are named in the reviews.
• Complaints: parking at the port, and a swim stop that feels short.

Sub-scores are guide 4.8, transportation 4.8 and value 4.7, from about 5,900 reviews.

Who should skip the Flipper Uno cruise?

Skip it if you need a long snorkel, an English-only guide or a trip that starts in the south of the island.

• Snorkellers: try the Xplore kayak and snorkel trip.
• Non-Spanish speakers who need guaranteed translation: ask the operator first.
• Visitors based in Costa Adeje: the Eden Catamaran is nearer.

More options on the dolphin watching page.

How do you book the Flipper Uno Los Gigantes cruise?

Frequently asked questions

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 603483 (checked 17 October 2026); Turismo de Tenerife, Flipper Uno; MITECO Teno-Rasca panel; BOE, Real Decreto 1727/2007; Open-Meteo archive and marine APIs; sunrise-sunset.org; Frankfurter FX API.